UNIFORMITY OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 363 



find it difficult to understand how it has happened that, after the unanimous 

 Eeport of the Committee of the House of Commons in 1862, in favour of the 

 ultimate adoption of the Metric System of Weights and Measures, notliiug 

 has yet been done by our Government to make our people acquainted with 

 the details of that system by the distribution of Standards, and its introduc- 

 tion as a branch of education into schools aided by public money. 



I am, Gentlemen, with much respect, 



Your obedient Servant, 



H. Yates Thompson. 

 2 Cleveland Eow, St. James's, London, S.W. 

 July 27th, 1866. 



Report on the Exhihitlon of Weights, Measures, and Coins at the Universal 

 Exhibition in Paris, 1867. Bi/ Professor Leone Levi, F.S.A., F.S.S. 



Gentxemen, — In compliance with the desire of the Metric Committee of the 

 British Association and the Council of the International Decimal Associa- 

 tion, I proceeded to Paris to confer with M. Le Play, the Commi.ssaire- 

 General of the Universal Exhibition for 1867, with regard to the proposed 

 special exhibition of the Measures, Weights, and Coins of aU countries ; and 

 I have the pleasure to report that the utmost desire was shown to forward 

 the object in view, the same being quite in consonance with the design of 

 that Great Exhibition. 



Already had the Imperial Commission anticipated to some extent our 

 suggestions, since by decree of the 20th September I860, an International 

 Scientific Commission was constituted for the purpose of assisting in propa- 

 gating useful discoveries and promoting reforms of an international interest, 

 such as the adoption of the same weights and measures, of common scientific 

 units, &c., Mr. James Yates, F.E.S., Vice-President of the International 

 Association, having been nominated one of its members. 



In order to elicit an expression of opinion on the subject, and at the same time 

 to secure the concurrence of the Commissioners of different countries at the 

 time in Paris, M. Le Play summoned a preparatorj- Conference on the sub- 

 ject, which was held at the Palais de I'lndustrie on the 2nd of May, when the 

 proposal of holding such au Exhibition was fully considered and approved. 

 On my arrival in Paris, another meeting was held of the same Conference, 

 and both were attended by persons of great distinction belonging to France 

 and other countries. In the observations which I had the honour of making, 

 I showed the progress already made towards the uniformity of weights, 

 measures, and coins in diiferent countries, as well as what remains yet to be 

 done, and I concluded by suggesting — 



First, a special Exhibition of Weights, Measures, and Coins of all 

 countries ; 



Secondly, the collection of all official documents and rejjorts bearing on 

 the qiiestion of uniformity ; 



And, thirdly, the holding an Inteinational Conference at the time of such 

 an Exhibition to consider the weights, measures, and coins exhibited by all 

 countries, and the documents referring to the same, and to prepare a report 

 on the best means of attaining the desired uniformity as speedily as possible. 



M. Le Play, representing the Imperial Commissioners, gave his complete 

 sanction to the proposal ; and he suggested that a smaU Committee from the 

 Scientific Commission should be appointed by the President of the Imperial 

 Commission to promote the object, the same to be afterwards enlarged by 



